Why did Kate Chopin use so many French words in "Desiree's Baby?" How did she treat the characters and how is this reflected in her style of writing?

In "Desiree's Baby," Kate Chopin uses French words because the story is set in Louisiana, which was a Creole society. People spoke French at that time, so it was natural that when writing about Louisianians, Chopin would include French words in the dialect.

She treated the characters in a realistic manner. The slaves were shown to be quiet and wary, as they were on edge about their master's volatile behavior; later, they were frightened by what might happen when everyone realized their mistress, Desiree, had a child of mixed race. Chopin treats Desiree and Armand in a realistic way as well. Both of these characters might have acted the way they did in real life. Through both her incorporation of French words and her treatment of her characters, Chopin creates a powerful, compelling story.